Lazio Club Focus: Hunting Zebras for redemption

Date: 16th December 2015 at 6:35pm
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Pioli LazioHard lessons were learned on Monday evening’s 1-1 draw against Sampdoria.

First of all, don’t celebrate too hard, or else you may need to leave the field with an injury like Federico Marchetti did after Alessandro Matri scored his wonderful header late in the game. It’s possible that many fans might’ve hurt themselves with excitement in the same way, as Lazio finally looked destined to break free from their Serie A misery, but instead shot themselves in the foot at the last possible moment.

The second lesson was hard learned by Etrit Berisha, who could either take up rugby, or forget about ever hauling down opponents in the way he did to Luis Muriel ever again.

Inevitably, the Albanian’s blunder allowed Ervin Zukanovic the honour of orchestrating one of Sampdoria and Vincenzo Montella’s happiest moments in recent weeks, scoring from a last minute free-kick that deflected off Felipe Anderson’s head to equalise at a stunned Stadio Olimpico.

The draw gave Montella his first-ever point since taking charge as coach of the Blucerchiati, who were en-route to their fourth straight defeat had it not been for Lazio’s accursed league form.

What remains for Stefano Pioli is only known by club President Claudio Lotito, the same president who recently insulted the club’s supporters section openly from the stands.

However, there is one game on the horizon that could provide a brief moment of respite, before Serie A rears its ugly head again in the form of next Sunday’s match against leaders Inter at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.

I’m speaking of course, about the Coppa Italia, which may bring out Lazio’s best form and consistency that has really only shown itself in the Europa League lately.

The Biancocelesti have two days to clear their minds of the Monday night shock before they welcome Udinese to the Stadio Olimpico to begin their Coppa campaign at the round of 16 stage on Thursday.

While on paper the Zebrette look like a feasible solution to their seven game winless run in Italy, they have the potential to surprise the Aquile just like they did in their 3-1 defeat to Atalanta in their fourth round matchup.

Antonio Di Natale will look to follow up on his impressive brace notched at the beginning of the month to take his side to this stage, but Lazio simply need to take this chance to overcome their latest obstacle and remove the cloud of doubt that fills their locker room.

A distraction from Serie A seems to have worked in the past, why not now?

 

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